Cruise W1011
on the Black Watch
to the North Cape of Norway

(Please scroll down to see my photographs and read my report)

Date: Port: Arms: Escort: Comment:
16-Jul-2010 Southampton
Hampshire
- On board
by 11 am
19-Jul-2010 Molde,
Møre og
Romsdal
- Jazz Festival
21-Jul-2010 Tromsø
Troms
Arctic City
Tour
Cathedral &
Museum
22-Jul-2010 Honningsvåg
Finnmark
North Cape
Transfer
Wet & Windy!
23-Jul-2010 Alta
Finnmark
City Tour Sami Camp
& Museum
25-Jul-2010 Narvik
Nordland
- Glorious day!
27-Jul-2010 Olden
Sogn og
Fjordane
Fjord
Fishing
Glorious day!
28-Jul-2010 Bergen
Hordaland
Lysoen
Island
Very pretty
30-Jul-2010 Southampton
Hampshire
- Home by 9:30!





Me, Jane, Tarzan & Tony in the Midnight Sun

Me, Jane, Tarzan & Tony in the Midnight Sun



Me with Trevor

Me with Trevor "Eddie Grundy" Harrison from the Archers!



Self portrait with Hedli

Self portrait with Hedli "Kathy Perks" Niklaus from the Archers!


Here's my report on the cruise:

   Just to let you know that I have just got back from my cruise to the North Cape of Norway on the lovely Black Watch.

Bamse and me in Honningsvag

Bamse and me in Honningsvag

   A full day in Tromsø enabled me to see the Arctic Cathedral & University Museum on tour in the morning and the Botanic Gardens, Geologic Walk & Science Centre in the afternoon.

   Meeting some Sami people (you mustn't call them Lapps) was fascinating again. The prehistoric rock carvings in Alta were very impressive. The bears may be indicators of re-incarnation and bear in Norwegian is Bjorn. So "Bjorn Again" the ABBA tribute band has additional significance!

   The entry and return through the narrow Trollfjord was dramatic but cut the numbers in my line dance class!

Fjord

Fjord

   The sailaway from Narvik was in glorious sun & scenery.

Bergen old town

Bergen old town

   The new courtyard attached to the Garden Cafe is delighful and so much better than the cage on Boudicca. It has french windows on two sides opening out on to the Garden Cafe and the reduced size Braemar Lounge. Unfortunately Steve the pianist was often playing to no-one in there.

   I ran several line dance classes and led the audience participation spot on the Western night. I managed to get my trading name (Doc. Martin) into the daily programmes! Black Watch (originally the Royal Viking Star) is better than her sister ship Boudicca (originally the Royal Viking Sky) for several reasons:

Black Watch

Black Watch


Good points were:

  1. Excellent programme of up to 3 lectures per sea day.
  2. Outside twin cabin with twin porthole.
  3. Forward facing observation lounge.
  4. All round teak promenade deck.
  5. Efficient cabin steward.
  6. Warm pools & jacuzzis.

Usual sea day programme:

09:30 - 10:15 Line Dance class in the Lido.
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch in the Garden Cafe.
14:00 - 15:00 Ballroom / Latin American dance class 
              in the Neptune Lounge.

Usual evening programme:

06:30 - 07:17 Dinner in the Garden Cafe.
07:30 - 08:30 Pre-show dancing in the Neptune Lounge.
08:45 - 09:30 Showtime.
09:30 - Late  Post-show dancing in the Lido.


For the record ...